Contractable side portions for disposable diaper

ABSTRACT

An elastically contractable, flexible side position for an integral disposable diaper. The side portion extends along the lateral edge of the diaper and an elastic contracting member is attached to the side portion adjacent the outer lateral edge of the side portion to elastically contract the outer edge of the side portion.



1. In an integral disposable diaper having a backsheet and a semi-rigidabsorbent body superposed on and associated with the backsheet, animprovement, comprising: a. a flexible side flap extending outwardlyfrom and along each lateral edge of the absorbent body, the side flapbeing in the crotch area of the diaper, b. an elastic member secured tothe side flap in an elastically contractable condition, the elasticmember being effective to gather the side flap thereby providing anelasticized contractable line through the side flap; c. the portion ofthe elasticized contractable line in the crotch area being spacedoutwardly from the lateral edge of the semi-rigid absorbent body at leat3/4 inch; whereby effective elastic side flaps are formed on theintegral diaper and the side flaps being compliant and forming effectiveseals about an infant''s leg.
 2. The improvement claimed in claim 1including attachment means between the side flap and its correspondinglateral edge of the absorbent body so that tension forces in the sideflap are transmitted to the lateral edge of the absorbent body, wherebythe absorbent body if compacted by the legs of the infant during wearingis uncompacted or stretched out by outward movement of the infant''slegs due to tension imposed on the edge of the absorbent body developedin the side flaps by outward movement of the infant''s legs.
 3. Theimprovement claimed in claim 2 including an ear portion at alongitudinal end of the absorbent body, the ear portion extendingoutwardly beyond the lateral edge of the absorbent body in the crotcharea and having flexural rigidity so that it is resistant to inwardforces imposed on the ear portion, the elastic member being laterallyinward towrad the longitudinal center line of the diaper from thelateral edge of the ear portion, whereby the ear portion tends to remainextended outwardly when subjected to forces imposed by the elasticmember.
 4. The improvement claimed in claim 3 wherein one end of theelastic member intersects the front portion of the absorbent body andthe other end of the elastic member intersects the back portion of theabsorbent body.
 5. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein one end ofthe elastic member intersects the front portion of the absorbent bodyand the other end of the elastic member intersects the back portion ofthe absorbent body.
 6. The improvement claimed in claim 1 including anear portion at a longitudinal end of the absorbent body, the ear portionextending outwardly beyond the lateral edge of the absorbent body in thecrotch area and having flexural rigidity so that it is resistant toinward forces imposed on the ear portion, the elastic member beinglaterally inward toward the longitudinal center line of the diaper fromthe lateral edge of the ear portion, whereby the ear tends to remainextended outwardly when subjected to forces imposed by the elasticmember.
 7. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein the minimumeffective length of thE elastic member in its stretched condition is 4inches.
 8. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein the side flap isessentially triangular.
 9. The improvement claimed in claim 8 whereinthe angle Alpha is between 20* and 65*, the angle Beta is between 20*and 70*, and Alpha plus Beta is between 90* and 135* .
 10. Theimprovement claimed in claim 8 wherein the angle Alpha is about 52* andangle Beta is about 58* .
 11. The improvement claimed in claim 6 whereinone end of the elastic member intersects the front portion of theabsorbent body and the other end of the elastic member intersects theback portion of the absorbent body.
 12. The improvement claimed in claim1 wherein one end of the elastic member intersects the front portion ofthe absorbent body and the other end of the elastic member intersectsthe back portion of the absorbent body.
 13. The improvement claimed inclaim 1 wherein the elasticized contractable line is spaced outwardlyfrom the lateral edge of the absorbent body at least 1 3/4 inches. 14.An integral disposable diaper, comprising: a. a flexible moistureimpermeable backsheet; b. a semi-rigid absorbent body having a crotcharea width narrower than the width in the waist area on the back portionthereof, whereby the absorbent body has ears at the corners of the backportion thereof, the ears having flexural rigidity so that they areresistant to inward forces imposed thereon, the absorptive bodysuperposed on the backsheet; c. the backsheet extending laterally beyondthe edges of the absorbent body, whereby a flexible side flap along eachedge of the diaper is formed; d. an elastic member longitudinallyoperatively associated with the side flap in an elastically contractiblecondition, to provide a longitudinally elastically contractable sideflap, the elastic member being effective to longitudinally gather theside flap thereby providing an elasticized contractable line through theside flap; and e. the portion of the elasticized contractable line inthe crotch area being spaced outwardly from the edge of the semi-rigidabsorbent body at least 3/4 inch; whereby effective elastic side flapsare formed on the integral diaper and the side flaps are compliant andcontractable and form effective seals about an infant''s leg.
 15. Thediaper claimed in claim 14 wherein the absorbent body is hour-glassshaped, the angle Alpha is between 20* and 65*, the angle Beta isbetween 20* and 70*, Alpha plus Beta is between 90* and 135* ;
 16. thediaper claimed in claim 15 wherein the lateral edges of the absorbentbody are secured to the flexible side flaps in the crotch area of thediaper.
 17. In an integral disposable diaper having a semi-rigidabsorbent body, an improvement comprising the combination of: a. amoisture impermeable, flexible side flap extending along each lateraledge of the diaper and being at least in the crotch area; b. an elasticmember operatively associated with each side flap in an elasticallycontractable condition to provide a longitudinally contractable sideflap, the elastic member being effective to longitudinally gather theside flap thereby providing an elasticized contractable line througheach flexible side flap and oppositely disposed elasticized contractablelines, one on each side of the diaper; c. the flexible side flap beinglocated laterally inward toward the longitudinal center line of thediaper from the elasticized contractable line, the flexible side flaphaving a width of at least 3/4 inch in the crotch area; d. theoppositely disposed elasticized contractable lines being at least 4inches apart; whereby during wearing each elasticized contractable linemaintains contact with an infant''s thigh and the flexible side flappermits free movement of the infant''s legs while spanning the gapbetween the semi-rigid absorbent body and the thigh.